North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in Shillong has been recognized a "University with Potential for Excellence (UPE)". It is one of the nine Universities to be awarded the status. Its chosen thrust areas under the programme are Area Studies and Biosciences. This was revealed by the Vice Chancellor of the NEHU, Prof. P. Tandon, while interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of the ongoing Indian Science Congress. He said the University was chosen to host the event because of its proud record in research activities.

NEHU was established in 1973 by an Act of Parliament "to disseminate and advance knowledge by providing instructional and research facilities in such branches of learning as it may deem fit; to pay special attention to the improvement of the social and economic conditions and welfare of the people of the hill areas of North-East Region, and, in particular their intellectual, academic and cultural advancement".

The University has its headquarters and main Campus at Shillong and another Campus located at Tura, both in Meghalaya. The University is one of six scheduled Universities that can affiliate any minority educational institution in the country. Currently the University has 31 Post Graduate Departments, 5 Centres of Studies, including a Rural Development & Agricultural Planning Post-Graduate Department. Eight Departments have received special funds from Department of Science & Technology. The Department of Botany is the only Centre of Advanced Studies in the region. At present 2764 numbers of students are pursuing Post Graduate Courses, Professional Courses and research in the University.

A Voice-Data Network across the University Campus affords faculty and students to readily access internet as well as the UGC Infonet and Inflibnet. A University Management System Software is being acquired to introduce e-governance. Facilities for video-conferencing exist. The University Library has a collection of 3 Lakhs books and subscribes to 400 foreign and 300 national journals and is in the process of digitization. NEHU has made steady progress in research, consultancy and extension activities during the last five years. The University currently has research collaborations with 20 institutions of repute in the country and 7 abroad. The University has been identified for PIHEAD (Promotion of Indian Higher Education Abroad), Study India Programme and has an EDUSAT hub.

The University's main Campus is located in a picturesque forested area of 1025 acres covered with lush green pine trees. For greater interaction and a vibrant academic life on the campus the University has accommodated National Council of Science Museum, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Indian Council of Social Science Research, Sports Authority of India and The English and Foreign Languages University in its Permanent Campus at Shillong.

According to Prof.Tandon, considering the fact that North-East India is a biodiversity hot-spot and encompasses a range of zoological, botanical, cultural, social, historical and language diversities, NEHU is in a unique position to undertake studies on these aspects.

The University hosts two Rajiv Gandhi Chairs in the areas of "Tribal Development" sponsored by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and on "Protective Discrimination" sponsored by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. The University has also received a special grant from UGC towards establishing North-East India Centre of Diversities (NEICoD). The Centre would showcase the rich diversities through a Cultural Park and a Bio-Park.

Source : Press Information Bureau
Date : January 06, 2009